Amidst a brutal Group B, defending champions Italy begin their Euro 2024 challenge with what is surely a must-win match, as they take on Albania in their opening game of the competition in Dortmund on Saturday.
With Spain and Croatia looming in the next two matches, Italy will require three points here if they are to have any hopes of advancing to the knockout stage, whether by automatic passage as a top-two finisher or as a best third-place qualifier.
Italy have been on quite the rollercoaster ride in the last decade, winning the Euro 2020 title but failing to even qualify for either of the last two World Cups on either side of that continental championship.
Albania, meanwhile, are ranked 66th in the world by FIFA but qualified by surprisingly topping their preliminary group ahead of the likes of Czechia and Poland, who both also reached the competition.
The Sporting News is following the Italy vs. Albania match live, providing score updates, commentary and highlights as they happen.
Italy vs. Albania live score
| Score | Goal scorers | |
| Italy | – | – |
| Albania | – | – |
Starting lineups (predicted):
Italy (4-2-3-1, right to left): Donnarumma (GK) — Di Lorenzo, Calafiori, Bastoni, Dimarco — Barella, Jorginho — Chiesa, Frattesi, Pellegrini — Scamacca.
Albania (4-2-3-1, right to left): E. Berisha (GK) — Hysaj, Ismajli, Djimsiti, Mitaj — Asllani, Ramadani — Asani, Bajrami, Seferi — Broja.
MORE: Euro 2024 schedule and results, updated LIVE | Who will win Euro 2024? Latest odds and predictions | How to watch all the Euro 2024 action
Italy vs. Albania live updates, highlights, commentary
1 hour 15 mins to kick: Thanks to their back-to-back World Cup qualifying failures, many have forgotten that Italy are defending champions of this competition. Only one nation has ever won consecutive Euros, when Spain did so in 2008 and 2012. Could Italy be the second-ever nation to defend a Euro title?
1 hour 30 mins to kick: All eyes will be on Gianluca Scamacca up front for Italy. With Ciro Immobile left off the squad, it will be up to the Europa League winner to lead them up front. He’ll have teammates hot on his heels for that No. 9 job, so he will need to deliver early and often.
🇮🇹 Scamacca sweeping in 🧹#UEL pic.twitter.com/4CDwtdEHUr
— UEFA Europa League (@EuropaLeague) June 15, 2024
1 hour 45 mins to kick: Albania may be one of the minnows at Euro 2024, but there are many reasons not to underestimate them. One being the numbers in which their fans have shown up in Germany!
The Albania fans have arrived in FORCE in Dortmund ahead of their clash with Italy! 🇦🇱 🔥 #Euro2024 pic.twitter.com/P18cuMTIfz
— talkSPORT (@talkSPORT) June 15, 2024
2 hours before kickoff: Italy’s squad has looked sapped of its usual star power for some time now, and the lack of world-class talent in this storied football nation has been a big concern for Azzurri fans. The biggest name in Italian football now is Marco Verratti, and he was left off the list to make the Euros squad after a move to Saudi Arabia.
Head coach Luciano Spalletti has played into this notion, hoping to speak some confidence into his squad despite the lack of star power, saying they need to prove to the Italian public that they are, indeed, of the level of legends.
“We are playing a starring role when it comes to any Italian that tucks a ball under their arm after school and went out to play football before going home at night with their face tired, their shirt dripping in sweat, and their knees grazed,” Spalletti said. “We are the dream for all of those individuals. We need to go out there and show them we’re at the level they believe we are at. Giants and heroes have no fear of going out there and trying to get a result in a football match.”
On this day in 2016: the start of the Antonio Conte masterclass at Euro 2016 🔝
Opening match: a 2-0 win against Belgium’s golden generation ✅🇮🇹
pic.twitter.com/TnX1knWYM2— Italian Football TV (@IFTVofficial) June 13, 2024
Italy vs. Albania kickoff time
This Euro 2024 match kicks off from Borussia Dortmund’s home stadium on June 15 at 9:00 p.m. local time in Dortmund. Here’s how that time translates across some of the major territories around the globe:
| Date | Kickoff time | |
| USA/Canada | Sat, Jun. 15 | 3 p.m. ET |
| USA/Canada | Sat, Jun. 15 | 12 p.m. PT |
| UK | Sat, Jun. 15 | 8 p.m. BST |
| Australia | Sun, Jun. 16 | 5 a.m. AEST |
| India | Sun, Jun. 16 | 12:30 a.m. IST |
Euro 2024 Group B standings
| Pos. | Team | GP | Points | W-L-D | Goals For | Goals Against |
| 1. | Spain | 0 | 0 | 0-0-0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2. | Croatia | 0 | 0 | 0-0-0 | 0 | 0 |
| 3. | Italy | 0 | 0 | 0-0-0 | 0 | 0 |
| 4. | Albania | 0 | 0 | 0-0-0 | 0 | 0 |
Italy vs. Albania lineups, team news, starting 11
Italy boss Luciano Spalletti is without some key players for Euro 2024. Francesco Acerbi, Giorgio Scalvini, Nicolo Zaniolo, Domenico Berardi, and Destiny Udogie are all sidelined through injury. Midfielder Sandro Tonali is suspended due to betting offences.
On the flip side, Davide Frattesi, Nicolo Fagioli, and Nicolo Barella are expected to play despite minor injuries. Barella, the key playmaker, created more chances and assists than any other Italy player in qualifying.
Gianluigi Donnarumma is set to start in goal despite a mixed season with Paris Saint-Germain. The main decision up front is between Atalana’s Europa League-winning striker Gianluca Scamacca and Genoa’s Mateo Retegui, with Scamaca expected to get the nod.
Italy projected starting lineup (4-2-3-1): Donnarumma (GK) — Di Lorenzo, Calafiori, Bastoni, Dimarco — Barella, Jorginho — Chiesa, Frattesi, Pellegrini — Scamacca.
Italy subs (9): (Lineups released one hour prior to kickoff)
There are a few notable Italian links in Sylvinho’s Albania squad. Atalanta defender Berat Djimsiti will captain the team. Playmaker Kristjan Asllani, fresh off a Scudetto win with Inter Milan, is ready to shine.
Nedim Bajrami and Marash Kumbulla, who faced relegation with Sassuolo, are also in the squad. Chelsea youngster Armando Broja, who has recently recovered from an ACL tear and spent this past season amidst an injury-filled loan spell with Fulham, will lead the attack after Sokol Cikalleshi’s retirement.
Albania projected starting lineup (4-2-3-1): E. Berisha (GK) — Hysaj, Ismajli, Djimsiti, Mitaj — Asllani, Ramadani — Asani, Bajrami, Seferi — Broja.
Albania subs (9): (Lineups released one hour prior to kickoff)
How to watch Italy vs. Albania
| Date | Time | TV Channel | Streaming | |
| USA | Sat, Jun. 15 | 3 p.m. ET | FOX | Fubo USA, Fox Sports GO, ViX |
| Canada | Sat, Jun. 15 | 3 p.m. ET | CTV, TSN1, TSN4, TVA Sports | CTV app, TSN+ |
| UK | Sat, Jun. 15 | 8 p.m. BST | ITV | ITVX |
| Australia | Sun, Jun. 16 | 5 a.m. AEST | — | Optus Sport |
| India | Sun, Jun. 16 | 12:30 a.m. IST | Sony TEN 2, Sony TEN 3 | Jio TV, Sony LIV |
USA: Italy vs. Albania will be televised in the United States on the Fox Sports Network, with Spanish-language streaming via ViX. The game is also available to stream on Fubo which is currently offering a FREE seven-day trial.
Radio coverage of the match can be followed on SiriusXM FC.
UK: This Euro 2024 match will be broadcast in the UK on ITV1 with fans in Scotland able to watch on STV. Streaming can be found on ITVX and the STV Player.
Canada: Euro 2024 matches can be seen in Canada on TSN’s respective TV channel and live streaming services. TVA and CTV will also be showing the match.
Australia: Australia’s sole broadcaster for Euro 2024 is Optus Sport.
India: Euro 2024 matches are available to stream on JioTV and Sony LIV and Italy vs. Albania can also be viewed on Sony Ten Network on TV.
If the Italy vs. Albania match is not available to watch live in your location, or if you’re traveling abroad, you can use a Virtual Private Network (VPN). VPNs offer a secure and private online connection, allowing you to bypass geographical restrictions to access your favorite streaming services from any device anywhere in the world.
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